Conveyer



H. SEUBERT No`v. 16, 1943.

GONVEYER Filed Feb. 17, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet l l 1 l I l I u l r l x n l n t l l n n I I l I l I l l Il lllllllllllllll III/rin,

H. SEUBERT Nov. 16, 1943.

vcorrvmzn Filed Feb. 17, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 H. SEUBERT GONVEYER Filed Feb. 17, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 H. SEUBERT Nw.A 16, 1943.

CONVEYER Filed Feb. 17, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 f f /W f Patented Nov. 16, 1943 CONVEYER,

yHerman Seubert, Franklin Park, Ill., assignor to The Petersen Oven Company, Chicagoylll., a

corporation of Illinois Application February 17, 1942, Serial No. 431,214

1t claims. (ci. 19a-10s) This invention relates to conveyers of the type including a piurality of material supporting devices or trays, and more'p'articularly to conveyers of the class wherein the load supporting surface i of the materialA supporting devices or trays is caused to remain in a substantially horizontal pol sition throughout its entire path of travel around on which are carried material supporting'devices have been extensively used in connection with baking ovens. Such types of conveyer structures, however, have been .of great concern to bakers because of the Vibration inherent in the conveyer chains as a result of the movement of the chains around end sprocket wheels;` and furthermore, because the material supporting devices, particularly in single cycle operated oven conveyers whereY material is' loaded and unloaded at the same point, are generally pivoted adjacent their upper end, which results in the devices having imparted thereto a swaying and jiggling motion as they move from one run of the conveyer to the other run. Frequently such conditions become aggravated due to improper positioning of pans of foodstuffs on the material supporting devices and which condition tends to cause the body o f the foodstuff to shift toward one end-or side of the pan. Such movements result in nonuniformity of shape, thickness, coloring or browning of the baked foodstuff.

One of the primary objects of this invention is to provide a novel and improved form of conveyer construction characterized by the provision of a plurality of independent material supporting dei vices adapted to be moved into abutting relation with each other in such Aa manner as to impart movement from one toganother and thereby effect movement of all of the devices along the runs of the conveyer in a continuous manner.

Another object is to provide an improved conveyer structure of the Character indicatedy comprising a plurality of independent material supporting devices wherein said devices are each constructed in relatively flat form, fand provided with rollers at its opposite ends for support in guideways, together with novel transferring means for causing each material supporting device to be handled individually in movement from one run of the conveyer to the other.

A further object is to provide an improved* conveyer of the class indicated kcomprising a plu` rality of independent material supporting devices and transferring means at opposite ends ofthe conveyer for individually transferring said devices from one run of the conveyer tothe other; togetherV with control means associated with the Y respective transfer means for maintaining said Y devices in a horizontal position during the period of transfer from one run of the conveyer to the other.

Still another object of this invention is to prowde a novel and improved conveyer structure of the class indicated which is relatively simple in construction, durable in operation and economical to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description taken inV connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through a' baking oven showing the general arrangement of the novel conveyer construction embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional View through' the oven, taken substantially as indicated at `line 2-2 of Figure 1, showing the novel conveyer construction in plan view; Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertica sectional view through one end of the 4conveyer taken substantially as indicated at line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a view similar to- Figure 3 showing one of the material supporting devices in a position preparatory to transfer from the lower run of the conveyer to the upper run of the conveyer;

Figures 5 and 6 are transverse vertical sectional views, taken substantially as indicated at lines 5-- 5 and 6 6, respectively, on Figure 3 ;Y

Figure' is Aa fragmentary vertical sectiona View through portions of two adjacent material supporting devices and taken substantially as indieated at line 'l--T on Figure 2; l i

i Figure 8 is a fragmentary vertical section through one side of the upper and lower runs of the conveyer, taken substantially as kindicated at line 8--8 on Figure 1, and showing removable grill form supporting trays mounted within the rframes of the material supporting devices;

Figure 9 is a transverse vertical sectional View through one of the material supporting devices, with the grill tray therein, taken substantiallyas indicated at line 9 9 on Figure;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of a wall of the oven showingthe terminal portions Vof the guideways for the upper run of the conveyer, and Y Figure 11 is a plan elevational view of one `end portion of a material supporting device, with the grill tray in position therein. yInV the drawings I have shown my novel form of conveyer construction as used in conjunction with the bakingl chamber of a commercial type` per se constitutes no part oi the present inven.V

tion, it is believed unnecessary to refer to detailsY oi' construction and arrangement thereof.

referred to, and to insure proper positioningr of the members 33, a lock nut 34, is employed.

It wiilbe apparent that the material supporting devices may be fabricated in any desired and suitable manner. In the vform shown in the drawings, the rectangular frame 24 permits the use of a removable grill structure designated at 35, which v#grill structure is composed of a plurality of trans- The conveyer constituting the present invenfY I tion is made up of a plurality of separate, independent material supporting devices, indicated generally at I5, which are disposed in endwise versely spaced apart parallel rods 36 supported at their yends in the vertical leg of an angle shaped :member 3T', the horizontal legs of which angle abuttingr relation to eachother, by virtue of which movement of one is imparted to the next adjacent device and by virtue of which all of the devices on the respective separateruns of the conveyor are moved as a unit, as a continuously movi-ng conveyor. YThe conveyer as seeny in the drawings isv of the horizontally traveling type and includes upper and lower runs which, for convenience, wiil be designated as A and B',

respectively. Y

Suitable guide means is provided for the opposite ends of the material sup-porting devices for both uppern and lower runs of the conveyor. The guide means throughout the major portion of the horizontal runs is in the form of a channel guideway or trough, and, as may be seen in Fig-` ure 8, the guide means for the upper run includes a pair of angle members Il and I8, and the guidel means for' the lower run includes a pair of angle members I9 and 2!.`

Mounted in registration with the guideways formed by the channels for therespective upper and lower runs, at each end thereof, isa curved end track member 22, as clearly seen in Figures 3 to 5-of the drawings. These members 22 are spaced from the side walls of the baking chamber so as to be in a position to beV engaged by rollers of the material supporting devioes,'as will hereinafter be described.

The material supporting devices I each include a generally rectangular shape frame 24 composed of end bars 25 connected together by cross bars or tie members 25. Mounted on each of the end bars 25' and projecting outwardly therefrom are a series of'uniformly spaced apart, horizontally aligned rollers 28, journaled in a conventional manner on pins 29. The rollers'at the respective' outer ends of the end plates 25 have mounted coaxially therewith auxiliary rollers 3B, which are of the same size as the other rollers 28, as clearly seen in Figure ll. The spacing between adjacent rollers corresponds to the pitch of the sprocket wheels employed for moving said material supporting devices, aswill hereinafter be described.

A corresponding cross bar 25 of each material. supporting device is 4provided with a pair of socket fixtures 32 adjacent opposite ends, as seen in Figure 2 of the drawings, and threaded in each of the sockets 32 is a headed bumper member 33. The ends of thebuniper membersr33, as seen in Figure'Y 2 of the drawings, are adapted to abut against the adjacent cross members 25 of the next material supporting device and serve as the medium for transmitting. of Yforces for moving the devices, one by another. The bumper mem# ,bers 33 provide fornicety of adjustment and insure proper spacing of the material supporting devices with each other so that the adjacent Y sets of. rollers 28 and 30 of Vtwo consecutivedei porting devices.

members are adapted to seat upon the transverse tie members 26, as clearly seen in Figure 9. Thus, the, grill structure may be quickly and easily removed for repair or replacement, and otherwise remains relatively stable in seated position in the frame of the material supporting device l5.

Transferringr means of identical form are located at the opposite ends of the conveyer for transferring the material supporting devices individually from one run of the conveyer to the other. The transferring means, as will hereinafter appear, is so constructed and arranged as to permit proper functioning of the conveyer when operating in either direction of travel. In so far as it is practical, one of the transferring means will be described in detail and it may be understood to be descriptive of the other except where otherwise indicated.

Rigidly mountedY on a main operating shaft 48, extending transversely of the oven chamber, as seen in Figure 2, are a pair of transversely spaced apart main sprocketl wheels 4I, spaced in proper relationto the walls of the chamber and the guideways so as to engage and drive all of the rollers 28 4on the respective material supporting devices, as may be clearly seen from Figures 3 and 6 of the drawings. Disposed outwardly in endwise direction and in offset relation to the main sprocket wheels 4I are auxiliary sprocket wheels 43, as may be seen by a comparison 0f Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings, in a position to cooperate only with the auxiliary rollers 39, located at the leading edge of the material sup- Said auxiliary sprocket wheels are each rigidly mounted upon stub shafts 44 extending through thewalls ofthe oven. The stub shafts 44 exteriorly of the oven are interconnected by chain drives, as indicated at 45, with the adjacent` operating shaft 40 so that the respective pairs of auxiliary and main sprocket wheels are drivenY in proper synchronized relation to each other. It is to be understood that the main operating shafts 40 and stub shafts 44 are suitablir journaled within the Walls of the oven (not shown), or as may be desired on. either the interior or exterior of the` wall of the oven. As seen in the drawings, the main operating shaft 40, located at the right hand end of the conveyer, as seen in Figure 2 of the drawings, is provided with an extension 49a for connection to a suitable sour-ce of power. It is also to be understood that leither of the operating shafts 40 might properly be connected to a source of power inasmuch as the conveyer operates satisfactorily in either direction of travel. In the arrangement shown the main and auxiliary sprockets at the left hand end of the conveyer, as seen in Figure 2, are driven by abutment of the rollers of the material supporting devices I5, therewith.

The reason that the auxiliary sprocket wheels 43 are mounted on stub shafts is to enable movement of the material supporting devices across material Ysupporting device. The cams 56, wh'lle theinneriace thereof, such as Vmay be seenin Figures 3 and5 of the drawings; A

Y' Associatedwith each set of main and vauxiliary sprocket wheels at each side of the conveyer and at each end thereof is a control device, as indicated at 50, which is pivotally mounted at I to theside vwall of the oven chamber. The control device includes a control arm 53 disposed laterally outside of the auxiliary sprocket wheel 43, as seen in Figures 3 and 5 of the drawings, in a position to be moved into the path of` travel of the-auxiliary rollers 305at`fthe' leading edge fof the Ymaterial supporting Adevices during transfer from one run of theconveyer to the other. The upper end of the arm 53 is angled olf, as'indicated at 54, so as to causel the armvto be conveniently depressed upon engagement by one of the auxiliary rollers 30 when' the material supporting device is moving from the upper run of the -conveyer to the lower run of the conveyor, as would be the case at the le'ft hand end of theV conveyor, as seen in Figure 1,r inview of the direction of travel indicatedin Figures 3 vand 4.

' `The control members 50' each include a cam surface 5G Vadapted to be normally disposed in the path of travelof the auxiliary rollers 30 of the material supportingV devices, and the shape of cam 56 follows the same arcuate contour as the roller engaging surface of the end track mem` bers 22. As a material supporting tray I5 moves along the lower run of the conveyer, the auxiliary rollers 30 engage the cam surfaces 55 of the respective controlmembers and tendito ride up saidc'amsurfaces EB; which action depresses the cam members "50 so as to rotate them about their pivots 5I, so that the materialsupporting device may continue its forwardmovement along 'the angle tracks untilrsaid auxiliaryrollers at the leading edge of the device I5 engage the inner surfaee'of the end track members 22. It is to be understood that'asthe auxiliary rollers at the leading edge of the material supporting device engage the cams 56, said members 5U are rocked upwardly, so thatV the arms 53swing counterclockwise, and'it isto be understood'that said arms are freeto so move because the previous material supporting device being transferred will be out of the wa'y. After the auxiliary rollers at the leading edge of the materiall supporting device pass over the cams 56, said cams are again restored to the position seen inFigure 4 so that the upper contours' of arms 53 are disposed substantially in aligned relation to the contour of a portion of the inner'roller engaging surface of the end track members 22.- As the rollers 28, at the leading edge of the material supporting device engage the end track membersl 22, and cause said device to move upwardly, the auxiliary rollers at said end are positively engaged and driven by the auxiliary sprocket wheels 43. During the initial portion of such driving movement of the material supporting device, said auxiliary rollers at the leading end of the device enga-ge the arms 53 of the Ycontrol members to prevent upward movement thereof until said auxiliary rollers pass beyond the end of the arms and duringwhich time the members 5i! are held nxedand the auxiliary rollers 3l! at the following edge of the material supporting device are caused to ride upwardli' on the cams 56 in the same relation as the forward or leading edge of the material supporting device is elevated.` Such upward movement of the material supporting devices is accomplished by the main sprocket wheels 6I which, as above mentioned, engage al1 of the rollers 28 of each the arms 53 are held down, thus tendto cause the rollers atthe following edge of the material supporting device to remain seated in the sockets of the main sprocket wheels 4I until the said main sprocketwheels can positively support said following edge of the device I5. In the meantime, the auxiliary rollers 30 at the leading edge of the device I5 are in driving engagement with the auxiliary sprocket' wheels 43, and because the main sprocketrwheel 4I and auxiliary sprocket l wheels 43'are driven in synchronized rotation the bers `22 and hold the members 5I) in fixed posi-l material supporting device is thus moved from the lower run of the conveyer to the upper run of the conveyer, and during which period of movement said material supporting device I5 is caused to remain inra horizontal position, as seen in Figure 3 of the drawings. When the device I5 is elevated so that its rollers are in alignment with the channels of the upper guideway formed by Vchannels I1 and I, the driving motion of the sprocket wheels moves the device into abutting relation tothe previously moved 'device and thus serves to impart a continuous movement to yall of the devices on both runs of the conveyer. It will `be apparent that after the device I5 is in alignment with the channels II and I8, it is moved forwardly therealong .by the sprocket wheels 4I and 43, and during such movement the next succeeding device is being raised bythe sprocket wheels and moved into synchronized abutting engagement with the preceding device so that the movement of the devices on therespective runs of the conveyer is smooth and continuous. Y As may be clearly seen'in Figure l0 of the drawings, the angle member I8 forming the lower portion of the. upper runway is notched at I8a to provide clearance for the auxiliary rollers 30 and their adjacent rollers 28 during their vertical movement until they register with'the channel guideway constituting the upper runway of the conveyer. The lower angle member I8 of the upper guideway is also notched, as indicated at I8b and IBc, for `accommodating the upper portion of the respective main and auxiliary sprocket wheels, as maybe clearly Vseen in the drawings.

The control members at the left hand end of the conveyer, as seen inFigure 1, functionsin a manner opposite to that above described. In other words, as the material supporting device moves downwardly under support and control of Y the main and auxiliary sprocket Wheels, together with the end track member 22, the auxiliary rollers at the leading end of the device I5 engage arms 53 and depress them to align with the contour of the innersurface of the end track memtion until the material supporting device rides forwardly onthe lower run of the conveyer. During such downward movement the auxiliary rollers 30 at the opposite end of the device are guided and supported on the then iixed cams 56 as the weight of the adjacent end ofthe device is gradually released from the-main sprocket wheels 4l; and, as 4the Ndevice rI5 becomes deposited on the lower runway, the main and auxiliary sprocket wheels 42 and 43, respectively, drive it forwardly, relieving the pressure on the arm 53, and when tlie'auxiliary. roller 3@ at the following end of the device rides over the hump 55d of the cams 56, the Varms 53 are temporarily moved upwardly merely to accommodate continuous forward movement ofjthe device I 5 without `obstruction.V Each of the control members 5I) is provided with a counterweight 6l which tends torcturn the control mem,

bersto the' position seen in Figure 4 of the drawings.,4` f f The upper angle member i9 of the lower runway terminates at opposite ends adjacent the axes of the main sprocket wheels, as seen in Figure 4 of the drawings, so as to provide clear-rk ance for the material supporting devices when moving into or out f the lower runway.

Because the sprocket wheels and the material supporting devices with the rollers properly located are so designed that the end rollers of two adjacent devices are engaged in consecutive pockets, between the teeth of the sprocket Wheels, and because of the timed synchronous relation of the mainY and auxiliary sprocket Wheels, it will be apparent that the material supporting devices in being transferred from one run to the other are brought into timed abutting engage. ment with previously transferred devices in such a manner as not to impart shock or appreciable. vibration to theother devices, and effect a smooth engagement so that the travel of all of the devices is relatively continuous. Although I have herein shown and described one embodiment of my invention, manifestly it is capable of substantial modifications and rearrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. I do not, therefore, wish to be understood as limiting this invention to the precise form herein shown and described, except as I may be so limited byv the appended claims.- Y

I claim: Y

1. A chainless conveyer, comprising in cornbination guide means for the upper andlower runs of the conveyer including a pair of verticallyspaced apart guide tracks at each side of the conveyer and curved end track members disposedA in registration with each end of each pair of guide tracks, a plurality of independent, material supporting devices each having a plurality of rollers at each side thereof mounted for support` on and movement over said guide tracks with one roller of each side engaging the corresponding curved end member, each of said devices being adapted to abut against the next'adjacent device for imparting movement from one to another, and means for sequentially engaging the respective devices individually for moving the same from one run of the conveyer to the other run into abutting engagement with the previously moved device for imparting movement to all of the devices on said other run of the conveyer, the adjacent portions of consecutive devices being provided with cooperating abutment features and one set of said features on each device being ade proper spacing of said devices.

2. A chainless conveyer, comprising in come bination guide means for the upper and lower runs ofthe conveyer including a pair of vertically spaced apart guide tracks at each side of the conveyer and curved end track members disposed in registration with each end of each pair of guide tracks, a plurality of independent, horizontally traveling material supporting kdevices each having a plurality of Yhorizontally spaced apart rollers at each side thereof mounted for support on and movement over said guidetracks with one roller of each side adapted for engaging the corresponding curved end member, each of said devices being adapted to abut against the next adjacent device for imparting movement from one to another, and means for sequentially Ajustable relatively to said each device tor insure asseoir engaging two of said horizontally spaced apart,y

rollers at each side of the respective devices vwhile` said lone rollers at each side engage the curved end member for movingI the devices individually in a substantially horizontally disposed position from one run of the conveyer to the other run into abutting engagement with the vpreviously moved device for imparting movement to all of the devices on said other run of the conveyer.

3.1A chainless conveyer, comprising in combination guide means for the upper and lower runs of the conveyer includinga pair of vertically. spaced apart guide tracks at each side of the conveyer and curved end track members disposed in registration with each end of each pair of guide tracks, a plurality of independent, horizontally traveling material supporting devices each having a plurality of, horizontally spaced apart rollers at each side thereof mounted for support on and movement over said guide tracks with one roller of each side adapted for engaging the corresponding curved end member, each of said devices being adapted to abut against the neXt adjacent device for impartingmovement from one to another, each of said devices includ-4 ing a frame and a material supporting tray element removably mounted on said frame, and means for sequentially engaging two of said horlzontally spaced apart rollers at each side of the respective devices while said one rollers at each side engage the curved end member for moving the devices individually in a substantially hori- Zontally disposed position from. one run of the conveyer tothe other run into abutting engagement with the previously moved device for im-y parting movement to all of the devices on said other run of the conveyer.

4. A chainless conveyer, comprising in combination, guide means for the upper and lower runs of the conveyer including a pairof vertically spaced apart guide tracks at eachV side of the conveyer and curved end track members disposed in registration with each end of each pair of guide tracks, a plurality of independent, horizoni tally traveling material supporting devices each having a frame and a plurality of aligned, horizontally spaced apart rollers at each side of the frame adapted for support on and movement over said guide tracks, and means at one end of the conveyer for sequentially engaging the vrespective devices individually, adjacent opposite ends thereof, for moving the same in a substantially horizontally disposed position from one run of the conveyer to the other run, with the rollers at the leading edge of each device engaging and riding over the corresponding end track members, and causing each device to abut the previously moved device for imparting movement to all of the devices on said other run of the conveyer.

5. A chainless conveyer, comprising incombination, guide means for the upper'and lower runs of the conveyer including a pairv of vertically spaced apart guide tracks at each side of the conveyer and curved end track members disposed in registration with each end of each pair of guide tracks, a plurality of independent, horizontally traveling material supporting devices each having a frame and a plurality of aligned, horizontally spaced apart rollers at each side of the frame adapted for support on and movement over said guide tracks, and means at one end of the conveyer for sequentially engaging the respective devices individually, adjacent opposite ends thereof, for moving the same in a substantially horizontally disposed position from one run of the conveyerto the other run, with the rollers at the leading edge of each deviceengaging and riding over the corresponding end track members, and causing each device to abut the previously moved device for imparting movement to all of the devices on said other run of theconveyer, said means being constructed and-arranged to impart motion 'to said devices in a manner to effect continuous movementof all of said devices as a unit.

6. A chainless conveyer, comprising in combination, guide means for the upper and lower runs of the conveyer including a pair of vertically spaced apart guide tracks at each side of the conveyer and curved end track members 'disposedin registration with each end ofeach pair of guide tracks, a plurality of independent, horizontally traveling material supporting devices each having a frame and a plurality of aligned, horizontally spaced apart rollers atY each sidepof the frame adapted for support on and movementover said guide tracks, and transferring' means at opposite ends o f the conveyer for sequentially engaging the respective devices individually,- adjacent opposite ends thereof, for moving the same in a substantially horizontally disposed position from one run of the conveyer to the other run, with the rollers at the leading edge of each device engaging and riding over the'corresponding fend track members, and causing each device to abutV the previously moved device for imparting movethe previously moved device ina manner ,to effect f ment to all of the deviceson said other run of the Vregistration with each end of each pair of guide tracks, a plurality of independent,horizontally traveling material supporting devices each having Y a frame and a pluralityof aligned, horizontally spaced apart rollers at each side of the. frame adapted for support on and movement over said guide tracks, and transferring means at opposite ends of the conveyer for sequentially engaging the respective devices individually for moving the same in a substantially horizontally disposed` position from one run of the conveyer tothe other run, with thegrollers at the leadingedge ofeach device engaging and riding over the corresponding end track members-and causing each device to abut the previously moveddevice for imparting movement to all of the devices on said other run of the conveyer, one of said means beingpower driven and the other being operated bythe motion of said devices.

8. A chainless conveyer, comprising in combination, guide means for the upper and lower runs of the conveyer including a pair of vertically spaced apart guide tracks at each side of the conveyer and curved end track members disposed vin registration with each end of each pair of guide tracks, a plurality of independent, horizontally traveling material supporting devices each having a frame and a plurality of4 aligned, horizontally spaced apart rollers at each 'side of the frame 'with the rollers at the leading edge of each device engaging and riding over the corresponding end track members,4 and causing each device to abut continuous movement of all the devices on said otherrun of the conveyer, eachtransfer means 'comprising a pair offendwise offsetmain and auxiliary sprocket wheels at each side of the conveyer,` thercorresponding sprockets of the respective pairs being aligned and said main and auxiliary sprockets being so'cor'related as to simultaneously engage the end rollers'at the opposite ends of saidv devices for moving said devices from one run of the conveyer to the other.

9'. 'A chainless conveyer, comprising in combi- "nation,` guide means for the upper and lowerV posed in-registration'with each'e'nd of each pair ofuguide tracks', a pluralityoiv independenuhorizontally' Ytraveling material supporting devices each'l Vhavinga frame and'aplurality'of aligned, `horizontaliyspaced apart rollers at each side of the frame' adapted for Asupport on and movement 4over said guide tracks, and transferring means at each end of the conveyerfor sequentially enga-gling the respective devices "individuallyfor moving the same in a substantially horizontally disposed position from one run or" the conveyer to the other run, with the rollers at the leading edge of each device engaging andriding over the corresponding end track members, and causing each deviceito abut the previously moved device in a manner to effect continuous movement of all the devices on said other-run'of the conveyer,`each `transfermeans comprising a pair of endwise oil- Vset main and auxiliary sprocket Wheels at each side of the conveyer, the corresponding sprockets vcf the respective pairs `being alignedl and v.said main and auxiliary sprockets being so correlated as to simultaneously engage the end rollers at the opposite ends of said devices for moving said devices from one'lrun of the conveyer to the other, said auxiliary'sprockets-each being axially offset outwardly relatively to the adjacent main sprocket to insure-clearance for the intermediate rollers on the adjacent end of saidvdevicesand said end rollers at eachend-ofeach device being of= such )length as to permitI engagement Withsaid auxil-` iary sprockets. y

l0. A chainless conveyer, comprising in combination, jguide means for the upper and lower yruns of the conveyerincludng a pair of vertically spaced-apartguide tracks at each side of 'the conveyer and curved end'trackmembersdisposed in registration with each end of each pair ofguide tracks, a plurality oindependent', Ahorizontally Vtraveling material supporting devices each havinga frame and a plurality of aligned, horizontally spaced apart rollers at each sideV o1 vthe framev adapted yfor support on and movement Aover 'said guide tracks, and transferring means at each end of the conveyer for sequentially engaging the respective devices individually for 'movingthe same in asubstantially horizontally disposed Vposition fromone runof the conveyer ^to the'other run, with the rollers at fthe leading edge of each deviceengagingand riding over the corresponding end track members, `and causing each device to abut the previously moved device Vin a mannerfto effect continuous movement of Y* all the devices on said other run of the conveyer, each transfer means comprising a pairof endwise i Voffset main and auxiliary sprocket wheels'at each side of theconveyer, the Icorresponding sprocketsv i Y of the respective pairs beingaligned and said 'main andk auxiliary` sprockets being so correlated as to simultaneously engage the end rollers at thcopposite ends o f said devices for mOVingsaid devices from one run of the conveyer lto e the other, said auxiliary sprockets each being axially offset outwardly relatively to the adjacent main sprocket to insure clearance for the intermediate rollersv on the adjacent end of said devices, and said end rollers at each end of eacn device being composed of two axially aligned vindependently movable rollersso as kto permit engagement of Ythe outermost roller with the auxiliary sprockets and to afford free rollingrfsupport for one end of the device uponffmal stage of transfer movement.

11. A chainless ccnveyer, comprising in combination, guide means for the'upper and lower runs of the conveyer including a pair of vertically spaced apart guide tracks at each side of the conveyer and curved end track members disposed in registration with each end of each pair of guide tracks, a plurality of independent, horizontally traveling vmaterial supporting -devices each having a frame and a plurality of aligned, horizontally spaced apartrollers at each side of the frame adapted `forsupport on and movement over said guide tracks, and transferring means at each end ofthe conveyer for sequentially engagng the respective, devices individually for moving the samein a substantially horizontally disposed position from one run of the conveyer to the other run, with the rollers at the leadingr edge of each device engaging and riding over the corresponding end ltrack members, and causing each device to abut the previously moved device ina manner to effect continuous movement of all; the devices on said, other run of the conveyer., each transfer means comprising a pair of endwise offset :mainl and auxiliary sprocket wheels at each side of the conveyer, the corresponding sprockets of the respective pairs being aligned and said main and auxiliaryv sprocketsgbeing so correlated asA to simultaneously engage the end rollers, at theY opposite ends of said devices for moving said devices from one runcf the conveyer to the other, said auxiliary sprockets each being axially offset outwardlyrelatiyely to the adjacent main sprocketI and eachpeing mounted onV separate stub shafts to insure clearance for the intermediate rollerson the adjacent end of said devices, and said end rollers at each end of each device being of such length as to permit engagement with said auxiliary sprockets.

12. A chainlessconveyer, comprising in combination, guide means for the upper and lower runs of the conveyer-including a pair of Vvertically spaced apartv guide tracks Kat each side o f the conveyer and curved end track members disposed in registration with each end of each pair of guide tracks, a plurality of independent, horizontally traveling material supporting devices each having a frame and ay plurality of aligned,

vhorizontally spaced apart rollers at each-side of the frame adapted for support on and movement over said guide tracks,V and transferring means at each endof the conveyer for sequentially engagingmthe respective devices individually for moving the same in a substantially horizontally disposed position from one run of the conveyer to the other run, with the rollers at the leading edge o fieach device engaging and riding over the corresponding end track members, and causing each device to abutthe previously moved device in a manner to effect continuous movement of all the, devices on said other run of the conveyer, each transfer means com-V prising a pair of endwise offset main and auxspective 4pairs being aligned and said main and auxiliary sprockets being so correlated as to simultaneously engage the endcllers at v,the opposite' ends of Said `devices`f`or moving 4said devices from one run of the conveyer to the ther, each pairof aligned main sprockets being mounted on an operating shaft, and the auxiliary sprockets each being axially offset outwardly relatively tothe adjacent main sprocket and each being mounted on separate stub shafts to insure clearance for intermediate rollers on Ythe adjacent ends of said devices, and the end rollers of each group at each end of each device being dimensioned forncooperative engagement with the auxiliary sprockets.

Y 13. A chainless conveyer, comprising in combination, guide means for the upper and lower runs of the conveyor including a pair of vertically spaced apart guide tracks at each side of the conveyer and curved end track members disposed in registration with each end of each pair of guide tracks, a plurality of independent, horizontally traveling material supporting devices each having a frame and a plurality of aligned, horizontally spaced apart rollers at each side of the frame adapted for support on and movement over said guide tracks, and transferring meansr at each end of the conveyer for sequentially engaging the re.- spective devices individually for moving the same in a substantially horizontally disposed position from one run of the conveyer to the other run, with the rollers at the leading` edge of each device Yengaging and riding over the corresponding end track members, and causing each device to abut the previously moved device in a manner to effect continuous movementV of all the devices on said other run of the conveyer, each transfer means comprising a pair `of endwise offset main and auxiliary sprocket wheels: at each side of the conveyer, the corresponding sprockets of the respective pairs being aligned and said main and `auxiliary sprockets being so correlated as to slmultaneously engage the end rollers at the opposite ends of said devices for moving said devices v'from one run of the conveyer to the other, each pair of "aligned main sprockets being mounted on an operating shaft, andthe auxiliary sprockets Veach being axially offset outwardly relatively to the adjacent main sprocket and each being mounted on separate stub'shafts to insure clearance for intermediate rollers on the adjacent ends' of said devices, and the end rollers of each `group at each end of each device being dimensioned for cooperative engagement with the auxiliary sprockets, one of said operating shafts ber'ing' adapted for connection to a source of power,

and each stub shaft being provided with a driving connection from theadjacent operating shaft vfor driving the auxiliary'sprockets in timed correhaving a frame and a plurality of aligned, horizontally spaced apart rollers at each side of the frame adapted for support` on and movement over said guide VVtracks', and transferring means at yeach end'of the conveyer for sequentially enrollers Vso as to permit engagement `of the gaging the respective devices individually for moving the same in a substantially horizontally disposed position from one run of the conveyer to the other run, with the rollers at the leading edge of each device engaging and riding over the corresponding end track members, and causing each device to abut the previously moved device in a manner to eifect continuous movement ofall the devices on said other Vrun of the conveyer, each transfer means comprising a pair of endwise olfset main and auxiliary sprocket wheels at each side of the conveyer, the corresponding sprockets of the respective pairs being aligned and said main and auxiliary sprockets being so correlated as to simultaneously engage the end rollers at f the opposite ends of said devices for moving said devices from one run of the conveyer to the other,v

said auxiliary sprockets each being axially offset outwardly relatively tothe adjacentmain sprocket to insure clearance for the Vintermediate rollers on the adjacent end of said devices,`

and said end rollers at each end of each device being composed of two axially aligned independently movable rollers so as to permit engagement of the outermost roller with the auxiliary sprockets and toafford free rolling support for one end of the device upon iinal stage of transfer movement, and separate control means associated with the guide means adjacent each cooperating pair of main and auxiliary.

sprockets, each of said controlmeans including a part actuated by the outermost roller at the lead- 'ing edge of each device for controlling'movement of the opposite edge of each device during movement thereof from one run of the conveyer to the other.

gageable by the outermost roller at the leading edge of each device for moving said caminto cooperating position relatively to theY outermost roller at the other edge of said devices for insuring maintenance of said devices in horizontal position during initial stage of transfer from'the upper run to the lower run.

16. A chainless conveyer, comprising in combination, guide means for the upper and lower runs of the conveyer including a pair of verticallyy spaced apart guide tracks at each side of the conveyer and curved end track'members disposed in v -registration with each endjof each pair of guide 15. A chainless conveyer, comprising in combination, guide means for the upper and lower runs of the conveyer including a pair of vertically spaced apart guide tracks at each side of the con'- veyer and curved end track members disposed in registration with each end of each pair of guide tracks, a plurality of independent, horizontally traveling material supporting devices each having a frame and a plurality of aligned, horizontally spaced apart rollers at each side of the frame adapted for support on and movement over said guide tracks, and transferring means at each end of the conveyer for sequentially engaging the respective devices individually for moving the same in a substantially horizontally disposed position spective pairs being aligned and said main and A from one run of the conveyer to the other run,

with the rollers at the leading edge of each device engaging and riding over the corresponding end track members, and causing each device to abut the previously moved device in a manner to eiect continuous movement of all the devices on said other run of the conveyer, each transfer means comprising a pair of endwise offset main and auxiliary sprocket wheels at each side of the conveyer, the corresponding sprockets of the respective pairs being aligned and said main and'auxiliary sprockets being so correlated as to simul-A taneously engage the end rollers at the opposite ends of said devices for moving said devices from one run of the conveyer to the other, said auxiliary sprockets each being axially oifset outwardly relatively to the adjacent main sprocket to insure clearance for the intermediate rollers on the adjacent end of said devices, and said end rollers at each end of each device being composed of two axially aligned independently movable tracks, a plurality 'of independent, horizontally traveling material supporting devices each having a'frame and a plurality of aligned, horizontally spaced apart rollers at each side of the frame adapted for support on and movement over said guide tracks, and transferring means at each end of the conveyer for sequentially engaging the respective devices individually for moving the same in a substantially horizontally disposed position from one run of the conveyer to the other run, with the rollers at the leading edge of each device engaging and riding over the correspondingend track members, and causing. each device to abut the previously moved device in a manner to effeet continuous movement of all the devices on said other run of the conveyer, each transfer means comprising a pair of endwise offset .main and auxiliarysprocket wheels at each side of the conveyer,` the corresponding sprockets of the reauxiliary sprockets being so correlated as to simultaneously engage the end rollers at the opposite ends of said devices for moving said devices from one run ofthe conveyer to the other, said auxiliary sprockets each being axially offset outwardly relatively to the adjacent main sprocket toinsure clearance for the intermediate rollers on they adjacentV end of said devices, and said end rollers at each end of each device being composed of two axially, aligned independently movable rollers so las to permit engagement of the outermost roller with the auxiliary sprockets and to afford free rolling supportvfor one end of the device upon nalstage of transfer movement, and s separate control means associated with the guide means adjacent each cooperating pair of main and auxiliary sprockets, each ofsaid controlmeans including an operating cam disposed adjacent the main sprocket and a control arm engageable by the outermost roller at the leading edge of each device for moving said cam into cooperating position relatively to the outermost roller at the other edge of said devices for insuring maintenance of said devices in horizontal position during initial stage of transfer from the upper run to the lower run, said cam having an operating sur` tion of the adjacent curved end track member.

HERMAN SEUBERT. 

